Bomphiologia

Bomphiologia, also known as "verborum bombus", is a rhetorical technique wherein the speaker brags excessively.Silva Rhetoricae (2006). [http://humanities.byu.edu/rhetoric/Figures/B/bomphiologia.htm Bomphiologia] ]

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History

The term "verborum bombus" is used by the sixteenth-century English rhetorician Richard Sherry in his 1550 book "A treatise of Schemes & Tropes".California State University (2006). [http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/jreinard/bookweb/history.htm The Development of the Field of Communication: Our Roots] ] In it, Sherry says

Verborum bombus, when small & triflyng thynges are set out wyth great gasyng wordes. Example of this have you in Terrence of the boasting souldiar.Dakota State University (2006). [http://homepages.dsu.edu/knutsode/contemprhet/atreatiseofschemesandtropes.htm A treatise of Schemes & Tropes] ]

Sherry mentions the "miles gloriosus" character from the plays of the Roman playwright Plautus. The "miles gloriosus" (meaning "braggart soldier") is a stock character from Plautus established in a play by Plautus. The "miles gloriosus" was a soldier who, although a coward, bragged excessively about past experiences.Cuddon, J.A., ed. "The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory." 3rd ed. Penguin Books: New York, 1991.]

The most famous "miles gloriosus" in theatre is probably Shakespeare's Sir John Falstaff. Falstaff is a fat old knight in the service of the English king who brags about his battle experiences, despite being cowardly and adverse to battle.Cummings Study Guides (2006). [http://cummingsstudyguides.net/xHenry4Part2.html Henry IV Part II] ] In one scene, Falstaff says

I would to god my name were not so terrible to the enemy as it is. I were better to be eaten to death with a rust than to be scoured to nothing with perpetual motion ("Henry IV, Part 2" 1.2.218-221).Wells, Stanley, ed. "The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works." 2nd ed. Clarendon Press: New York, 2005.]

Falstaff here is lamenting the fact that because his name is so terrifying, enemies avoid fighting him. This is obviously bomphiologia on Falstaff's part.

Uses

Bomphiologia can be used to comic effectHighBeam Research (2006). [http://www.highbeam.com/library/docfree.asp?DOCID=1G1:66580067&ctrlInfo=Round19%3AMode19a%3ADocG%3AResult&ao= A Catalogue of Selected Rhetorical Devices Used in the Works of Edgar Allan Poe] ] , as in the above hyperbolic instance with the character of Falstaff. This is an ironic use of the term, because Falstaff is an old, fat drunkard—-obviously in no condition to be scaring enemies as he claims to be.

Edgar Allan Poe used bomphiologia as a part of his style. One instance of this is in the following passage

two cats ... alighting opposite one another on my visage, betook themselves to indecorous contention for the paltry consideration of my nose. ("Loss of Breath" 2:159)The Works of Edgar Allan Poe (2006). [http://www.pambytes.com/poe/stories/loss_of_breath.html "Loss of Breath"] ]

This could have been simply stated, "Two cats fought over my nose." Instead, Poe presents a more stylized version which fills out the personality of his narrator.HighBeam Research (2006). [http://www.highbeam.com/library/docfree.asp?DOCID=1G1:66580067&ctrlInfo=Round19%3AMode19a%3ADocG%3AResult&ao= A Catalogue of Selected Rhetorical Devices Used in the Works of Edgar Allan Poe] ] It lets the reader know that the story is told by an unreliable narrator who is prone to exaggeration.

References